Columns & Conversation

Yabangee has had a number of columns through the years…

Review: Coldplace @ Bronx Pi Sahne

Let me set the scene: it's a summer night in 2000 and I'm inside my first car. I approach a traffic light while listening...

In Conversation with Senem Selimi, Istanbul Party Guru

Editor's Note: Senem Selimi will host a special Spring Passion party this Friday 11 May at Tora Nisantaşı. More details can be found via...

The Underground Sancaklar Mosque in Istanbul

It took us around two and a half hours to reach Sancaklar neighborhood, which lies on the outskirts of Istanbul Metropolitan City, to check out...

In Conversation with Artist Doug Russell (Part 1)

In 2008 I visited Turkey for the first time as a student from the University of Wyoming.  Together with nine of my classmates, I...

Review: Youn Sun Nah @ Borusan Muzik Evi

The Borusan Muzik Evi.  As you enter, you have already forgiven yourself for often being dazzled by the large Shake Shack sign down the...

In Conversation with Filmmaker Mehdi Shabani (Part 2)

Anyone who has visited a kahvehane in Turkey has heard the sound of plastic dice dance across a wooden backgammon board. Though the game...

Mountaineering in Turkey: Climbing Destinations and Mountaineering Clubs

By Gökay Ürk, guest writer for Yabangee After providing an introduction to Turkish mountaineering history and highlighting some prominent Turkish climbers, let’s take a look...

In Conversation with Leeann Murphy of Moon Istanbul & the Turkish...

The recently released Moon Istanbul & the Turkish Coast is a not-so-ordinary guidebook. At 480 pages in full-color, it's the perfect companion for any trip...

In Conversation with Tanaë, Belgian Singer-Songwriter

Tanaë is the stage name of up-and-coming Belgian singer-songwriter, Shana Seminara, who has been building the case for herself as a rising star with...

In Conversation with Falling Notes’ Karina Morera

Falling Notes is one of Istanbul's newest up-and-coming bands. The five-piece features Alican Tokdemir on drums, Umutcan Karamahmutoğlu on guitar, Sinan Çalışkan on bass, Yusuf Karaoğlu on both guitar...

Review: “Painter and Painting: A Mehmet Güleryüz Retrospective” @ Istanbul Modern

By Sheldon Heyes The life and career of acclaimed Turkish artist Mehmet Güleryüz is on exhibition at the Istanbul Modern Museum until June 2015. 200 pieces...

“Longing for Istanbul”: An Expat’s Love Letter to the City of...

Longing for Istanbul doubles as a sociological reflection on modernization processes in Turkish culture and a personal memoir that articulates what it means to...

Notre Dame de Paris: Timeless for a Reason

“Belle” is the only word I know that suits her well When she dances oh, the stories she can tell.... She dances naked in my soul...

Walk Across Turkey: Bozkurt to Çardak

Wednesday, 19 September When I woke up the next morning my right foot was hurting something fierce, the anxiety was back, and I still wanted...

The Away Days Return Home @ Salon IKSV

The Away Days don’t sound like your average Istanbul band, but then again, how does an “average Istanbul band” even sound? With a city...

IKSV 4th Istanbul Design Biennial: Doubt and Learning in a School...

The IKSV 4th Istanbul Design Biennial: A School of Schools opened its doors on Saturday 22 September to an eagerly awaiting public. Under the...

Reflections on the 37th Istanbul Film Festival (2018)

Film festivals require planning and commitment, and these considerations obstructed me from participating in the Istanbul Film Festival in previous years. This year, however,...

Review: Hamdi Akatay & Tepecik Filarmoni Orkestrası @ Babylon Bomonti

A Thursday night spent in Babylon Bomonti never disappoints. Last week, I finally made it to see Hamdi Akatay & Tepecik Philharmonic Orchestra on stage....

In Conversation with Omar Berakdar of Arthere

Arthere is a gallery and artists’ workspace in the Yeldeğirmeni neighborhood of Kadıköy. After nine months of preparation, it opened in December of last...

Dreaming the Future: The Russian Avant-Garde Exhibition

Visiting the Sakıp Sabancı museum has been on my mind since I got to Istanbul, more because of its aesthetics than anything else. The...

Open Studio Days: A Non-Profit Art Organization

Open Studio Days is a yearly art event and the most comprehensive open studio activity in Turkey where artists open their studios for three...

Band Profile: Peripheral Dots

Peripheral dots is something you see when you get whacked in the head, strong enough to feel dizzy, but not too fatal to make...

Walk Across Turkey: Denizli’s Charm

Monday, 17 September - Denizli Monday morning, the third week of the walk, I packed up my stuff and said goodbye to Metin and the...

Meet the Civil Society Worker: ‘City Box’ Athens – Istanbul Meets...

Istanbul is a very vibrant city, full of young people. Although I did not know too many Turkish people when I started visiting the...